Mastodon - Once More Around the Sun
Listened to this in hopes that it would be a step up from The Hunter, which I wasn't huge on. Three tracks in and I'm having the same issue with it as The Hunter: the vocals. This one is definitely a step up in a sense but it lies a good flight of stairs below Remission, Leviathan, and Blood Mountain as well as Crack the Skye to a slightly lesser extent. It does have a heavier prog element which I like, and the instrumental interludes range from good to great.
I may get a little more used to the vocals after a few listens but they just seem so standard for Mastodon and I like them better when they're pushing the envelope in a way.